The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Inside Thoughts

Even with Vaccines Widespread and Low Positivity Rates, Caution Over Covid Must not be Thrown to the Wind

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By Gary Eddey, M.D.

A year and a half into the Covid pandemic, residents of the United States have a lot to be grateful for.

By early January of 2020 researchers in China had sequenced and published the genetic code for the SARS – CoV 2, an RNA Coronavirus. The WHO quickly renamed it Covid 19. Before we recognized we were heading toward a monumental pandemic, companies around the world began developing vaccines. Within three months, Moderna, using two remarkable new vaccine technologies, began its first clinical trial. As everyone now knows, months later, the company garnered the coveted “emergency use” designation by our government. Pfizer and other companies were not far behind.

The speed of all this is mind boggling. Sequencing the RNA virus was followed by vaccine development within weeks! Vaccines often take decades to develop. For example, we still don’t have an established vaccine for another RNA vaccine, HIV. And how long did it take Jonas Salk and his labs to develop a vaccine for Polio, another RNA virus?

Fortunately, the mRNA vaccines, and others, are better at producing immunity in individuals than having the disease itself! And that is the reason why immunizing is essential, even for those who have recovered from Covid.

It is extremely important that the entire world have access to Covid vaccines that cover the variants, a process that is now underway. All this is great news.

So, what’s the bad news that demands continued caution, and is causing many scientists behind the scenes to worry, while politicians and lawmakers cave in to public or private pressures to ease restrictions?

First, there’s the death toll staring us in the face. This is a lethal virus, despite the odd fact that as many as 40% of people infected will not know they are infected. As of this writing the United States has 600,000 deaths, but countless more individuals will have to live with the residual effects of the infection, termed by the press as “long covid”. The chronic disability toll from Covid has yet to be determined (one report states this virus can change the function of cells in some organs.)

Second, we have the expected genetic mutations that occur in all RNA viruses. These mutations are called “variants” in the press. Genetic mutations are expected, but especially so in rapidly mutating RNA viruses. Why? Because RNA viruses are really good at following Darwin’s principles, too. The job of any organism is to develop a method to survive long term. Viruses follow survival of the fittest, and, by definition, genetic mutations, or variants, are hardier and more lethal. The only way they can survive is by mutating. (A current lethal variant circulating in India and now Great Britain is the Delta variant; current estimates suggest this mutation now constitutes 6% of all U.S. cases.)

How do we stop the virus in its tracks? The answer is to prevent infection with as many public health interventions as necessary, including vaccines.

This raises the question, “Will these genetic mutations require an annual booster?” Yes. “For how many years will we be dealing with this?” No one knows, but my guess is at least a decade, if not longer.

Here’s the important thing to remember: The longer that virus survives in the body–and the longer the virus circulates in the world– the more time the virus has to mutate. And that means more variants that will be more infectious and more lethal. Don’t get mad at Darwin: he simply understood that all organisms strive for evolutionary advantage. Here’s another issue to remember: When population immunity increases worldwide, that will, in and of itself, create more evolutionary pressure on Sars – 2 CoV to further mutate!

A question often asked, “Can a fully immunized individual get infected, let’s say from their own child?” Yes, its possible, and they can carry the virus for a short time before their body’s immune defense mechanisms rid the virus. The parents will not get sick, if properly immunized, but they will turn positive on testing and may need to isolate for an extended period of time. They will not become sick and it is highly unlikely they will be infectious to others. Wearing a mask in close quarters with strangers may be warranted.

How effective are they? Immunizations are never 100% effective, so there will always be some individuals in whom the vaccine doesn’t ‘take.’ It is not entirely known why we cannot reach 100% effectiveness, but the failure rate is reported to be between 5 to 15%, depending on the vaccine.

In the meantime, how do we deal with vaccine-hesitant folks? As a pediatrician, I’ve had to deal with this issue for decades. There are many good publications regarding  ‘anti vax’ populations, but the best answer I’ve seen so far was on Twitter, by Allen Frances, a thought leader in Medicine and Psychiatry. In response to a question from an individual hesitant about getting the vaccine who asked, “Please share articles and emotional reasons why I should get the shot. I am confused.” His response, “Getting the vaccine is among the easiest decisions in the history of the world: Unvaccinated = 600,000 dead – in the U.S.; Vaccinated = 0 deaths. I add to those statistics the worldwide mortality figures of millions dead, and countless with Long Covid.

Third, even in our society in the U.S., there are many individuals who do not appreciate the reach of this pandemic for any number of reasons. Some cannot understand or read about the pandemic, and are afraid. These are a few of the reasons I believe the suggestion that immunized folks no long wear a mask will be misunderstood, and those who need it may not wear one.

Bottom line: Even with public health measures, including vaccines, we cannot throw caution to the wind with any highly mutating RNA infectious virus.

(This discussion is not meant to provide medical advice; that must come from the reader’s personal physician. These are guidelines that the author follows.) 

Gary E. Eddey, MD, is a retired general academic pediatrician. He received his Medical Degree from Weill Cornell Medicine and holds a master’s degree (ScM Hyg) from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently he is a volunteer physician for Boston Rare Connections, and the University of Pennsylvania Orphan Disease Program. Dr. Eddey received his vaccine as soon as New York decreased the age to 65; at which time he reported to his FQHC center, Ryan Health, and stood in line to receive the first of two shots. He wears his mask when leaving his home, as does most everyone in his neighborhood. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still She Fights

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Our planet has spent decades relentlessly battling a disease
She cries acidic tears and rages in blazing fires
Her regal glaciers have begun to crumble and liquify
If you listen closely you can hear her screams of anguish
Her body is bruised and broken, she is frail 
Cracks stretch across her like veins, only they carry toxins 
Her vast oceans boil under the scorching sun beams that pierce the ozone layer 
Her ravishing beauty fades from golden to a tarnished brown 
Still she fights

 

Her illness only strengthens its grip, clawing deep at her fertile soil
She gasps for the crisp air she once had, but only inhales methane 
Her lungs turn black 
scorched, bulldozed, tarred, and polluted with oil
The vibrant watercolors that painted her flora and fauna are replace by charcoal
Years pass and her symptoms go unnoticed 
The fruit of her womb continues to poison her 
Still she fights

 

Seven years, seven years left to fight this sickness, seven years to reverse the damage
If no cure is found she will cease to exist
The root of her infection has been identified, it’s an autoimmune disorder 
Humans.
This toxic disease spreads exponentially, seven billion antigens 
They have waged war on her, drilled into her heart, and remolded her body 
Her amputated limbs have been replaced with mechanics
They have redressed her in piles of waste
Smothering her in plastic bags, forgotten pieces of cloth, and old tires
Still she fights

 

How she used smile incandescently
through the millions of sparkles in the black night
Draped silky tunics
made of the horizons tropical hues 
Laughed angelically
in the light breeze that brushes autumn’s leaves and the soft patter of snow
She danced rhythmically, doing the…  
Scorching salsa of the equator, gelid gallop of the Arctic, and balmy ballet of the temperate zone
Now her mountainous knees are weak 
Her bones have been impaled with fracking poles, and irrigation pipes
Her satin skirts are shredded and stained
Still she fights

A Slice of Americana…Revisited

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Finding Joy and Experiencing Hope in the Traditions and Continuity of Suburban Living

“I think an artist like Norman Rockwell would have done just fine here, inspiration-wise.”

I am writing this a day after the wonderful Presidential inauguration. When we moved out of the City years ago there was a “red” administration in Washington followed by a “blue” one and so on and so forth as the years flew by. With the hellacious year of 2020 now behind us, politics aside, as a nation we are all looking forward to meaningful change and progress. 

I’ve written here frequently about the cul-de-sac where we live. It doesn’t look or feel particularly different from year to year. Sure, we now have a sidewalk encouraging pedestrian activity, but otherwise there’s a reassuring steadiness to life here which helps folks carry on in such a fraught time while we await and long for better days.

When we moved into our yellow house we had no idea that life in the cul-de-sac would end up being a self-replicating slice of Americana. A lot of this bucolic suburban existence, at first glance, might appear mundane. 

However, within the semi-chaotic day-to-day lives most families with small children experience, a comforting repetition feels essential and sometimes beautiful. In other words, I think an artist like Norman Rockwell would have done just fine here, inspiration-wise.

Upon moving here, I was immediately struck by a simple act by our new next door neighbors. A knock on the door and a warm loaf of fresh-baked homemade bread was hand delivered as a means of introduction and welcome. Laurie and I were taken with this simple but lovely gesture and, for a minute, it calmed the turmoil of leaving apartment living in the city and starting over with our two still very young children. Even better, our new next door neighbors became dear friends. 

When those same next door neighbors moved to another state a few years ago it felt like the end of an era. Sometimes proximity is a fine ingredient for relationships. The warm feelings would carry on but, no doubt, things would be different. 

Upon reflection, these neighbors leaving cul-de-sac were just one domino in the chain. In fact, in the last several years literally every house next to ours or in close proximity has seen new families move in. It feels astounding to note that without even realizing it, almost in a blink of an eye, we went from the new kids on the block to the seasoned neighbors who are newer counterparts to turn to for guidance.  

With all families now enduring pandemic living, life in the cul-de-sac is far more remote than in previous years. It is nice to see people on walks even even with their face masks. You can tell they are still smiling with a wave and a hello. In this environment, it’s still the connection we need.

Embracing the Constants

Significantly comforting too are the ‘constants’, the steady reliable features of suburban living. The bus stop right in front of our house initially served as an introduction to the neighborhood. Kids meeting kids and us meeting other parents and caretakers. That daily interaction was not only socially meaningful but threw us into neighborhood circulation in an organic, no looking back manner.  

Now, with our children years past using the bus stop, there are new families with their kids waiting for the bus. That annual continuity, along with remembering the feeling of being part of it, is a sweet confirmation that however life may evolve, there are certain foundational pieces one can always rely upon.

Within the first few weeks of moving here there was a block party in the cul-de-sac. At that moment, for me, it felt like a mildly hokey social obligation and facing it as a new family just felt difficult. My sometimes panicky neuroticism aside, more thoughtful voices endured, and we went. It turned out to be a very enjoyable and bonding time–a fine tradition.

We had similar neighborhood parties over the years, but not since most of the new families have landed here. As we approach almost a full year of pandemic living, I’m looking forward to the old normal, like a block party that right now, is just impossible. Odd to be looking towards an event that will manage to be a tradition and a change simultaneously. Hopefully before long.

A Thanksgiving Toast to Appreciation and Understanding

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“It wasn’t just about us and our festivities. It was about everyone else who is now missing someone at their table.”

My earliest memory of Thanksgiving isn’t of all of us sitting around a table, playing football outside or baking with my mom. It’s mini hotdogs.

Yup. That’s right. Little pigs in a blanket with ketchup and mustard. I’m not even sure if that is a normal Turkey Day delicacy, but for my family it sure is.

This has been my favorite holiday forever and ever and ever. We normally wake up and eat cinnamon buns, watch the parade, go on a hike and then go to our cousins for a big Turkey Day celebration. I’m that girl who shops for a new “Thanksgiving sweater” every year. I’m also that girl who scrapes the marshmallows off the sweet potato casserole, guilty as charged. I’m so sorry to anyone who gets in line behind me. Snooze you lose Uncle Stu!

For some people, the food is what makes this their favorite holiday. But honestly, it’s just another day in the life for me.

I eat stuffing all the time when I’m home because I am obsessed with the box mix. I eat roasted veggies almost every night for dinner when I am at school. I don’t like mashed potatoes or cornbread and my typical evening ends with a nice amount of dessert.

What makes the holiday so special to me is being with my family. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again: if you know me, you know how important family is. There are some relatives that we really only see once or twice a year, this holiday being one of those times. It’s the time where I fill them in on how school is going, what my favorite classes are, how the boyfriend I don’t have is doing, etc.

So when my dad texted me a few weeks ago saying that Thanksgiving wasn’t happening, I had a moment. I sat on my bed in my towel dress and hair wrap (two amazing investments for any college gal to have) and shed a few tears. I got really worked up. No Thanksgiving? Just Mom, Dad and Alexis? But why can’t we all just get COVID tested before?

It was no use. It just wasn’t going to work. But after my five-minute breakdown and a few deep breaths later, I realized that it was okay. That was just the way it was going to have to be.

Did I have the CUTEST Thanksgiving sweater and boots all ready to go? Yes.

Was I worried about how the turkey would come out because my Aunt Kara normally cooks it and my mom is a pescatarian? Yes. (It ended up being fabulous.)

But, was this the responsible thing to do amidst the pandemic? Absolutely. It wasn’t just about us and our festivities. It was about everyone else who is now missing someone at their table.

While the day might’ve looked a lot different than normal, at least I could count on one thing: the mini hotdogs. Grandma delivered a tray to our cousins and us the day before. Don’t worry she had some for herself too.

Instead of sitting on my cousin’s couch after three rounds of dinner regretting that extra helping of stuffing, we were all wrapped up, like pigs in a blanket, in our living room all safe and sound by 4 pm because we ate at 3. Plus, I was already wearing sweatpants so I didn’t even have to change after dinner! It was perfect.

I hope everyone was able to celebrate in some way, shape or form. Whether it was Facetiming, Zooming or calling a loved one or eating a whole pie by yourself (you deserve it.) I’m so lucky that I was able to come home from school and spend the day – and the next two months – with my family and that is something that I appreciate and understand now more than ever.

Happy Holidays and stay safe. Like Governor Cuomo said, “Don’t be a turkey. Wear a mask!”

 

 

 

 

Sisterly Love for ‘Rent a Teenager’

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Let’s hope, given all that we have been through, we have a mild winter. But if we happen to have a storm this coming season, save your strength and let a teenager shovel your walk. I know just where you can find one…

Growing up, my twin brother, Mason, and I did many of the same activities. Whether running a race in the backyard, attempting the steepest ski trails, or memorizing multiplication tables, we were in a constant competition over who was faster, braver or smarter. In those rare instances when Mason would do better than me, I was definitely envious and admittedly, a bit of a sore loser. However, when he launched his entrepreneurial endeavor, Rent a Teenager, I easily felt pride over envy.

Here’s how Rent a Teenager came to be: When our older brother, Daniel, was in middle school, he would practice tennis by hitting with a local varsity tennis player. My mom paid the player $25 per hour back then. As Mason became more of a seasoned tennis player, he realized that he too could provide a similar service to younger kids at a fraction of the rate offered by professionals. As Mason started booking up, he realized that there was likely interest for lessons in other sports. He recruited some classmates and expanded his services to include soccer, lacrosse, basketball, you name it!

This led to RentATeenager.com, a website Mason founded as a resource that provides responsible and talented teenagers to perform various jobs. His range of services now extends way beyond just sports training. You can now hire a teenager as a tutor, babysitter, dog walker, errand runner, house worker, weed puller, couch mover, photographer, and more. As Mason likes to say, teens excel at just about everything. I guess with the exception of me since he never hires me for anything!

His website soon reached social media pages, like Instagram and Facebook, where he expanded both his slew of customers and his audience. From this, the business quickly gained momentum. Mason also started licensing his Rent a Teenager materials so teens in other towns can be their own boss and provide the same meaningful services in their community. And for a philanthropic effort, he donates 10% of his earnings to the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund.

Rent a Teenager is at the cornerstone of discussion in my house. Ugh. And I apathetically anticipate the inevitable talk about his business at the upcoming holiday gatherings (I will shut my Zoom off if we just talk Rent A Teenager!) My extended family is so proud of his entrepreneurial skills. Hello? What about me? Of course, my mom and dad always use the opportunity to say that they already use some teenagers to help around the house–as they look skeptically at me and Mason.

Back in October, Mason creatively approached the problem of a lack of poll workers by advertising for teenage poll workers on Facebook. He boosted his posts so that they would reach parents and teens throughout the U.S. In some states you just need to be 17 to be a poll worker and now because of Rent a Teenager, teens not old enough to vote were able to meaningfully participate in politics. Mason got a lot of press coverage for this initiative.

And to prepare for the cold and snowy winter ahead, Mason plans to offer snow removal services. I bet my Dad, who is hounded by my mom to snow blow the driveway starting at 5 a.m. the day after a storm, will appreciate that. I keep trying to push Mason to start a hot chocolate business; that would be an endeavor I would support.              

As much as I’d like to rent a new brother at times, and as much as this pains me to admit, Mason has created quite a successful business for himself and I know he will do quite well studying business in college. But not as well as me, of course!